Fuel burning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A gaseous fuel burning assembly employing a burner having a plurality of horizontally disposed radial passages for discharge of gas therefrom. A horizontally disposed, fluted circular plate above the passages is provided to spread the gas and provide a continuous ring thereof for mixture with combustion air passing through a cone-shaped air baffle in a vortex pattern.

United States Patent [72] inventor Hall Virgil Brownsburg. 1nd.

1211 Appl. No. 886,931

[22] Filed Dec. 22,1969

June 22, 1971 Carrier Corporation Syracuse, N.Y.

[451 Patented [73] Assignee [54] FUEL BURNING APPARATUS 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 2 239/406, 431/183 [51] int. Cl B05b 7/10 [50] Field of Search 431/183 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,203,462 8/1965 Prowse Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, .lr. A!l0rneys-Harry G. Martin, Jr. and .1. Raymond Curtin ABSTRACT: A gaseous fuel burning assembly employing a burner having a plurality of horizontally disposed radial passages for discharge of gas therefrom. A horizontally disposed, fluted circular plate above the passages is provided to spread the gas and provide a continuous ring thereof for mixture with combustion air passing through a cone-shaped air baffle in a vortex pattern.

PATENIEDJUH2219Y| FIG. I

ATTORNEY FUEL BURNING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many applications a compact, high-efficiency gas burner assembly is required. When burner size is reduced in relation to burner output, flame length is ordinarily increased. To provide a high output compact burner having a short flame length, a burner assembly may be provided which will produce a vortex flame pattern. The vortex flame pattern provides efficient mixing of large quantities of air and fuel for the high heat output in relation to burner size and flame length.

However, flame detachment from the burner, noise, and uneven distribution of the gas within the burner may be encountered with vortex burners. Also, due to the great amount of heat produced in a limited area, overheating of the burner assembly may be encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fuel burning apparatus comprising an air baflle and a burner assembly. The burner assembly which projects upwardly from the air baffle includes a burner head having a plurality of radially extending horizontal passages for discharge of fuel therefrom. The burner assembly also includes a circular fluted flame spreader plate which is disposed adjacent the burner head in a plane parallel to the plane of the burner head passages. The downwardly projecting flutes in the flame spreader plate are in vertical alignment with the horizontal fuel passages for dispersing and deflecting the fuel discharged from the burner head to produce a substantially continuous ring of flame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the burner forming the subject of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view' partially in elevation and partially in section of the burner illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is illustrated a fuel burning apparatus comprising a fuel burner assembly II and a cone-shaped vortex inducing baffle 13. Louvers 15, formed in baffle I3, are provided to create a vortical flow of air past the burner assembly.

The burner assembly comprises a burner head 17 adapted for connection to a suitable gasline 19 as by threaded connection 21. The burner head 17 is provided with a plurality of radially extending horizontal passages 23 for discharge of fuel therefrom. A circular concave flame spreader plate 25 is affixed to the burner head 17 by suitable means such as welding. The flame spreader plate is provided with a number of radially extending flutes 27, corresponding to twice the number of radially extending horizontal fuel discharge passages.

For optimum burner efficiency, a continuous ring of gas is desirable for mixture with a vortical flow of air. Since the gas is discharged from the burner head in a finite number of jets, the downwardly projecting flutes are vertically aligned with the horizontal fuel discharge passages so that a portion of the fuel discharged under each flute will flow to the sides of the flute. This results in an even distribution of gas flowing off the periphery of the plate 25.

Considering the operation of the described burner, air

under pressure is provided to the underside of the baffle plate. This may be accomplished by any suitable means, such as a separate blower or by installing the burner in a location such as described in US. Application, Serial No. 735,362, now US. Pat. No. 3,520,]45, filed June 7, I968, wherein a positive pressure differential is maintained across the burner in an absorption refrigeration machine by the condenser fan. Due to the pressure differential across the fuel burning apparatus, air passes upwardly through the louvers 15 in the vortex inducing baffle 13 and around the opening 29, which is provided in baffle 13 for insertion of the burner assembly. The louvers create a vortical flow of air above the air baffle, while the air passing through opening 29 provides preliminary mixing of gas and air. The gas discharged from passages 23 is evenly spread by the flutes 27 to provide a continuous, evenly distributed ring of fuel flow from the periphery of plate 25. The gas from the periphery of plate 25, which is mixed with the small quantity of air passing through opening 29, is ignited by suitable means such as a pilot flame (not shown) to provide a continuous flame around the periphery of plate 25. The air passing through louvers 15 provides the additional air necessary for substantially complete combustion of the fuel and produces a vortex flame pattern for maximum burner efficiency in a minimal area.

Since a vortex burner provides a very high heat output in a limited area, distortion or excessive heating of a portion of the burner apparatus may be encountered. By providing a coneshaped vortex inducing baffle below the burner assembly and out of the flame area, this problem is alleviated. Further, the fluted plate 25, by evenly distributing the gas, provides a very even, stable flame which has heretofore been difficult to obtain in high output, compact burner assemblies.

Iclaim:

1. A fuel burning apparatus comprising a burner assembly and a vortex inducing air baffle, said burner assembly comprising a burner head adapted for connection to a source of fuel, said burner head having a plurality of radially extending horizontal passages for discharge of fuel therefrom, a circular flame spreader plate disposed above said burner head in a plane parallel to the plane of the burner head passages, fuel discharged from the passages in said burner head being dispersed and deflected thereby to produce a substantially continuous ring of flame,

said vortex inducing air baffle having a conical shape and being disposed below the passages in said burner head, said baffle having vortex inducing louvers formed therein for passage of air from inside the conically shaped baffle outwardly, the vortical flow of air causing intimate mixing of fuel and air for efficient combustion.

2. A fuel buming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said circular flame spreader plate is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending fluted portions, said downwardly extending fluted portions being radially aligned with the passages in said burner head, said fluted portions causing an even distribution of fuel around the periphery of said plate to create a continuous ring of flamewithin the burner assembly.

3. A fuel burning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said circular flame spreader plate is concave, said plate having a plurality of upwardly extending fluted portions, alternating with said downwardly extending fluted portions, said upwardly extending fluted portions providing an even distribution of fuel around the periphery of said plate in conjunction with said downwardly extending fluted portions thereof. 

1. A fuel burning apparatus comprising a burner assembly and a vortex inducing air baffle, said burner assembly comprising a burner head adapted for connection to a source of fuel, said burner head having a plurality of radially extending horizontal passages for discharge of fuel therefrom, a circular flame spreader plate disposed above said burner head in a plane parallel to the plane of the burner head passages, fuel discharged from the passages in said burner head being dispersed and deflected thereby to produce a substantially continuous ring of flame, said vortex inducing air baffle having a conical shape and being disposed below the passages in said burner head, said baffle having vortex inducing louvers formed therein for passage of air from inside the conically shaped baffle outwardly, the vortical flow of air causing intimate mixing of fuel and air for efficient combustion.
 2. A fuel burning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said circular flame spreader plate is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending fluted portions, said downwardly extending fluted portions being radially aligned with the passages in said burner head, said fluted portions causing an even distribution of fuel around the periphery of said plate to create a continuous ring of flame within the burner assembly.
 3. A fuel burning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said circular flame spreader plate is concave, said plate having a plurality of upwardly extending fluted portions, alternating with said downwardly extending fluted portions, said upwardly extending fluted portions providing an even distribution of fuel around the periphery of said plate in conjunction with said downwardly extending fluted portions thereof. 